Iran supports progress of independent nations

Despite Arrogant powers’ pressures, Iran supports progress of justice-seeking independent states, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said here on Wednesday, AVA Diplomatic reports.He made the remarks in a meeting with Somalia’s Ambassador to Iran Khalif Kadieh Musa.

“Iran is ready to transfer its experience in all fields including the fields of healthcare, energy, road building and urbanization to Somalia.”

The Somalia envoy to Tehran, too, presenting a copy of his his credentials to Iranian president called Iran the elder brother of Somalia and welcomed the expansion of bilateral ties between the two states.

Iran has economic relationship with Somalia. One of Iran’s primary shipping routes runs through the Arabian Sea and by Somalia via the Gulf of Aden. In late 2008 and early 2009, piracy was rampant in the Gulf of Aden and in July 2009, Iran sent two warships to Somalia’s coast and the Gulf of Aden in an attempt to protect Iranian commercial and oil cargo ships.

Despite some difficulties, Iran and Somalia have explored political ties in recent years. In July 2008, Iran and Somalia discussed Somali political developments and bilateral cooperation between the two countries. Days later, Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki offered to mediate an ongoing Somali political conflict involving several internal Somali political factions.

In April 2009, Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki joined representatives from the European Union, the Organization of the Islamic Conference and other international donors to discuss Somali security and humanitarian issues. At this gathering, Iran said that outside involvement from various countries has intensified a 19 year-old internal conflict in Somalia. Mottaki said that Somali stability will come from internal political reconciliation. Mottaki also pledged Ian’s support in establishing peace and security in Somalia.

Following the emergence of pirates conducting ambushes in the Gulf of Aden in 2008, Iran directed warships near the Somali coast. In July 2009, Iran deployed two warships to the Gulf of Aden to protect Iranian merchant ships; the deployment was a response to previous attacks on Iranian oil tankers by Somali pirates.

The Iranians have sent four fleets of warships to the Somali coast to protect Iranian shipping lanes.

In December 2009, the Iranian Foreign Ministry issued an official condemnation of a suicide bombing in Mogadishu that occurred early in the month. The December 4 attack killed 23 people at Banadir University, including Somalia’s Education Minister Abudullahi Wayel, Health Minister Qamar Aden, and Higher Education Minister Ibrahim Hassan Adow. Iranian officials articulated their support for the legal Somali government and said that successful counterinsurgency relied on a peaceful diplomatic process.